Robert Duvall Slams ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ as Overrated

Few actors have enjoyed a career as enduring or as varied as Robert Duvall. With a filmography that stretches from the golden age of Hollywood to the present day, Duvall has shared the screen with a veritable who’s who of cinema. His credits include everything from The Godfather and Apocalypse Now to To Kill a Mockingbird and True Grit, not to mention more recent appearances alongside the likes of Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. At 95, he remains a formidable presence, never shy about voicing his opinions on the industry’s sacred cows.

Despite his own status as a fixture of American film, Duvall has never been one to indulge in uncritical praise for the so-called classics. His distaste for Stanley Kubrick’s methods is well documented, and he’s been known to take aim at revered works such as A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, dismissing their acting as subpar. It’s a stance that’s raised more than a few eyebrows, but Duvall has never been one to mince words.

Unfiltered Critique of a Cinematic Landmark

Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde is often cited as a turning point in American cinema, ushering in a new era of bold storytelling and stylistic innovation. The film’s impact on the industry is hard to overstate, and it continues to be celebrated for its influence and daring. Yet, for Duvall, none of this is enough to redeem what he sees as its fundamental flaws.

He recently shared his thoughts after watching a restored version of the film, and his verdict was as blunt as they come.

“I saw recently a newly restored version of Bonnie and Clyde. It really sucked.”

Pressed for further explanation, Duvall doubled down, offering little in the way of elaboration beyond a curt,

“Sucked!”

Acting Under Fire

Eventually, Duvall did expand on his criticism, and he didn’t hold back.

“The acting’s horrible. It’s like a Saturday Night Live sketch. And it’s an insult to the Texas Rangers. You can ask any one of the Rangers in this. I mean, I don’t get… To me, there’s something fraudulent about it.”

For Duvall, the performances in Bonnie and Clyde fall flat, lacking the authenticity and depth he values. His comparison to a sketch show is particularly biting, suggesting a level of artifice that, in his view, undermines the film’s reputation.

He went so far as to question the film’s legacy outright, stating,

“it doesn’t stand up now, and it didn’t stand up then.”

It’s a damning assessment, especially given the film’s critical and commercial success, not to mention its two Academy Awards from ten nominations.

Legacy and Dissent

Bonnie and Clyde’s place in film history is secure, its influence widely acknowledged by critics and audiences alike. Yet Duvall’s comments serve as a reminder that even the most celebrated works are not immune to sharp critique. His willingness to challenge the consensus, even at the risk of controversy, is perhaps what has kept him such a compelling figure in the industry for so many decades.